I enjoy being a mother and grandmother and caring for my cats, but I wanted more. I wanted to be out in the community. I have had lots of jobs in retail, call centers, and other faster-paced environments, which resulted in gaps in my employment.

When I started my job search in December 2024, I reached out to the Ticket to Work helpline, where I was referred to Work Without Limits. This is where I met Work Incentives Counselor Diane Ricker. She has been a big help and continues to be a support with Social Security (SSA), checking in on an as-needed basis. Diane helped me understand:

• My SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and connected me with the claims representative at the Social Security office, which is never an easy task
• How much money I can make before my Medicaid is affected – which in my state, is quite a bit
• When my Trial Work Period is over
• When I needed to stay under Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to maintain my benefits

Work Without Limits especially helped me with:

• Reporting my wages to SSA
• Awareness of work incentives
• Submitting necessary documents